# Resisting corruption along drug trafficking routes: An analysis of criminal justice bodies in Latin America and West Africa URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/resisting-corruption-along-drug-trafficking-routes-an-analysis-of-criminal-justice-bodies-in-latin-america-and-west-africa Type: Publication or report Published: 2021-05-14 Updated: 2021-05-27 --- 14 May 2021 Drug trafficking threatens good governance and fuels corruption, creating a vicious cycle where criminal justice institutions falter and the drug trade grows. Ordinary people become caught up in violence, extortion and drug addiction. Money laundering from drugs reduces economic growth and reinforces income inequality. Combatting drug trafficking and organised crime requires resilient and properly resourced criminal justice institutions that the public can trust. Civil society organisations can play a crucial role in constructively pressuring governments and institutions to be more transparent and accountable. In a new report, Transparency International chapters in nine countries in Latin America and West Africa which are located along the so-called cocaine route assessed criminal justice institutions tasked with the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of organised crime cases to identify integrity, accountability and transparency gaps, and to advocate for policy reforms. The countries are Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru and Venezuela in Latin America, and Ghana and Nigeria in West Africa. This report presents the main trends emerging from the national assessments and provides recommendations on priorities for reform. ### Related publications ## [Regional Assessment of Integrity in Political Finance in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/integrity-political-finance-asia) Publication • 03 September 2026 This report reviews systems across 17 countries to identify the areas of political finance most in need of reform. ## [Whistleblowing Authorities in Europe: Roles, challenges and lessons learned](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/whistleblowing-authorities-in-europe-roles-challenges-and-lessons-learned) Publication • 19 June 2026 This report examines the institutional design, mandates and functioning of national whistleblowing authorities across Europe. ## [Strengthening Public Oversight: Good practices for partnerships between civil society and supreme audit institutions](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/strengthening-public-oversight-good-practices-for-partnerships-between-civil-society-and-supreme-audit-institutions) Publication • 29 May 2026 Stronger collaboration between Supreme Audit Institutions and Civil Society Organisations is needed for better public financial oversight. ## [Closing the Gaps: Detecting and investigating corrupt money flows in the Middle East and North Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/closing-the-gaps-middle-east-and-north-africa) Publication • 13 May 2026 Corruption and illicit financial flows remain serious and ongoing challenges across the Middle East and North Africa. ## Countries - [Panama](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/panama) - [Ghana](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/ghana) - [Nigeria](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/nigeria) - [Dominican Republic](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/dominican-republic) - [Colombia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/colombia) - [Guatemala](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/guatemala) - [Honduras](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/honduras) - [Peru](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/peru) - [Venezuela](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/venezuela) ## Regions - [Americas](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/americas) - [Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/sub-saharan-africa) ## Projects - [CRIMJUST: Strengthening criminal justice along drug trafficking routes](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/justlead-strengthening-criminal-justice-along-the-cocaine-route) ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/CrimJust-report-cover.JPG?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2021-Report-Resisting-corruption-along-drug-trafficking-routes-Crimjust.pdf)